Participants attend a prayer vigil at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

Participants bless themselves with water before the prayer vigil. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

Cristina Ramos passes out candles before the prayer vigil. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

Blanca Lara signs a card that will be sent to Congress, asking for immigration reform. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

Participants light up candles during the prayer vigil. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

Participants light up candles during the prayer vigil. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

Jose Calderon, from left, Ruben Vazquez and Laura Vasquez work at the registration booth before the prayer vigil. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCA) holds mass and a prayer vigil towards immigration reform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, Calif. Friday evening, August 28, 2009.

SANTA ANA – A sister coping with her brother’s deportation. A son who paid off his father’s debt by working here illegally. A university student who arrived in the U.S. as a toddler but faces unemployment after his schooling ends.

These are the voices heard tonight at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, where more than 500 people gathered for a prayer candlelight vigil.

“We’re here to shed a little bit of light,” said the church’s pastor, Edward Poettgen. “It’s about people. It’s about families. It’s about sustainable communities.”

Poettgen and people from faith-based organizations and churches gathered in an attempt to push immigration reform into the forefront.

“I’m here to support everyone,” said Roberto Carteno of San Juan Capistrano. “I believe everyone should be equal. I hate injustice and discrimination.”

The 17-year-old spoke about what he called a broken immigration system as he held a candle in one hand.

“I just want this immigration problem to be fixed,” Carteno added.

The event was sponsored by the Orange County Congregation Community Organization. Members say they believe it is a moral imperative to protect the community, and to stop immigration raids and the separation of families.

The event began with a Mass at 7 p.m., followed by the testimony of three people who are in the country illegally.

Ruben Barreto of Huntington Beach, shared his tale of being brought into the country illegally at 4 years old.

While the 24-year-old doesn’t remember much about his journey across the border, he says his status makes it impossible for him to land a job legally after he graduates from Cal State Long Beach, where he is pursuing a degree in industrial design.

“There is so much talent that is going to waste because of those nine digits,” Barreto said about a lack of a Social Security number. “They cannot exercise their degrees. I’ll have my degree, but what after that? I can’t get a job.”

In addition to the vigil, attendees signed cards asking for comprehensive immigration reform, which will later be sent to members of Congress.

Earlier on Friday, Campo Minuteman Britt Craig, of Mission Viejo, held a vigil for Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas in Rancho Santa Margarita.

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